Today the Maldives remains very much like it has been for hundreds of years; small, but not lacking; isolated, but not invisible.

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1 Welcome to Maldives Today the Maldives remains very much like it has been for hundreds of years; small, but not lacking; isolated, but not invisible. Long ago maritime traders from around the world navigated the shores of the Maldives, and those who settled brought a rich blend of cultures which are still prevalent in the modern Maldives today. Now renowned for its luxury resorts, the Maldives are truly a once in a lifetime adventure. A paradise that has much more complexity than it s simplistic pure white beaches and blue lagoons would have you believe. Sadly at risk of submerging beneath rising sea levels there is no better time to travel to this rare geological marvel. Explore the vibrant coral reefs and get involved with enigmatic island communities. Let the gratuitous sun engulf you and admire this jewel of the Indian Ocean currently embracing environmental awareness and practices. Know your History Enshrined in ancient myths and legends, ruled by turbulent Sultanic dynasties and now facing possible relocation, the Maldives may be small, but it certainly has enough history for its many islands. Islam Conversion As early as the 2nd century AD there are records of Arab Maritime travellers en route to the Far East passing the Maldives. Like many travellers to follow, they were attracted to the islands for their potential trade position. Indeed, the islands shores were once scattered with great quantities of Cowry shells, which were a form of currency at this time, a symbol now adorning the National flag. Conversion to Islam occurred in 1153 led by Abu Al Barakat. Stories tell of him driving away a demonic sea jinni with readings from the Quran. Impressed with Islam, the Maldivian King is said to have converted the whole country to the religion. Several Sultanic dynasties ruled successfully afterwards, until the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th Century. The Portuguese The Portuguese, looking to enhance their profit already gained from western India set their sights on the Maldives. Soon they established a fort in Male, which was granted to them on relatively peaceful terms, but this was not enough. Captain Andreas Andre led an attack upon the ruling Sultan Ali VI. His success led to a 15 year rule of Male, which is said to have been cruel and oppressive, forcibly pushing Christianity onto the Maladivians. Tensions eventually culminated in a slaughter of the Portuguese on Male. The country was returned to Sultanic rule under Mohammed Thankurufaanu, who led the resistance. This victory is now recognised on National Day. 20th Century Maldives In the centuries following the Portuguese occupation there were few other attempts to colonise the Maldivians by foreign nations. The Maldives developed relationships with the Dutch, French and British, who granted them protection whilst allowing them to maintain internal autonomy. The Maldives had a well established democracy, and in 1932 created its first constitution. However, after the devastation of World War 2 where many died from malnutrition, a new constitution was put in place and with it Prime Minister Mohammad Amin Didi replaced the Sultan. The British, looking to recover a foot hold in the East after having lost India, devised a defence pact with the Maldives in which they dealt with international affairs but not internal. In 1953, Amin Didi became the country s first President for all of a year, until the Sultanate overthrew him.

2 Through the late 1950s Britain struggled to re-establish an Air force base in the southern most atoll, Gan. Having originally been granted a century long lease, the new government revised and shortened the lease, upping the rent along with it. This was the last official interference the British government had with the Maldives and on 26th July 1965 they gained Independence, and continued on to become part of the UN. Modern Maldives The path from independence has been all but smooth. An economic down turn in the 1970s, a coup in the 1980s and a number of internal shifts of power. The 1990s saw the Maldives international profile raised and the economy stabilised as the tourism and fishing industries boomed. But it was a tale of two countries, as the money and consequential development was unevenly distributed, leaving many small islands exhibiting the characteristics of developing countries. In recent years the government have orientated their agendas towards environmental issues. They have made pledges to become carbon neutral by And Realising their low lying islands own susceptibility to the effects of global warming (and rising sea levels) they have began a fund to purchase land when the time comes to relocate. Money Talks The Rufiyaa is the currency of the Maldives. The colourful notes come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 Rufiyaa. Coins come in denominations of 2 and 1 Rufiyaa, and 50, 25 and 10 larees. The value of the Rufiyaa is linked to that of the US dollar, so the exchange rate between the two currencies barely changes. Both currencies are accepted and most local shops and services will happily accept USD but change will be given in Rufiyaa. Rufiyaas are not readily usable outside the country, so visitors should refrain from exchanging vast amounts. Any remaining currency can be reconverted at the airport when you leave. ATMs are found on the main island of Male, but not the smaller islands. Get Culture Savvy It is difficult to define one distinct culture of the Maldives. Its position along an important trade route has meant visitors from all over the world have contributed towards the shaping of the country s beliefs and traditions. In addition to this, the sheer number of islands and their secluded nature has resulted in great diversity from one atoll to another. The islands reflect a blend of Southern and South East Asians, Africans and Arabic cultures. The latter has had the greatest influence on the islands religion, and the majority of the people are Sunni Muslims. They are a highly spiritual people with a great respect towards each other and to visitors. This welcoming culture has continued to evolve with the times and increasing tourism, whilst still upholding their own unique identity. Festivals As a Muslim country the Maldives celebrate a host of Islamic festivals mixed with some more contemporary ones. January 01 - New Year Day February 04 - National Day February 15 - Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) March 07 - The Day Maldives Embraced Islam

3 July 26 - Independence Day August 01 - Beginning of Ramadan August 31 - Eid ul-fitr or Id-UI-Fitr ( End of Ramamdan) November 03 - Victory Day November 05 - Hajj Day November 06 - Eid-al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) November 11 - Republic Day November 27 - Islamic New Year Learn the Lingo Maldivian Dhivehi is the official language of the Maldives, greatly influenced by the many cultures to have visited the island in the past, most notably Arabic. However, the dispersal of Maldivians over the many atolls has caused the language to branch off into several dialects, most popularly Male Bas. Below are some common phrases (a combination of standard and colloquial Dhivehi) Hello (formal) - Assalaamu Alaikum Hello (informal) - Kihineh? How are you? - Haalu kihineh? Yes - Aan No - Noon Where? - Kobaa? Why? - Keevve? Who? - Kaaku? There - Ethaa Here - Mithaa What? - Koacheh? What is (your) name? - Kon nameh kiyanee? My name is - Aharenge namakee Good - Ran'galhu Where are you from? - Kon rasheh? Thank you - Shukuriyaa I am sorry - Ma-aafu kurey How old are you? - Umurun kihaa vareh? What place are we going? - Kon thanakah dhanee? What time are (we) going? - Kon irakun dhanee? What is the price? - Agu kihaavareh? How long will it take? - Kihaa ireh nagaanee? What time is it? - Gadin kihaa ireh? What island is that? - E-ee kon rasheh? Lay of the Land The Maldives owes a lot of its culture, language and biodiversity to its unique geography. Just north of the equator, it is a geological eccentricity in the middle of the Indian Ocean, born around the sides of prehistoric volcanoes. The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands spread over 90,000 sp km, although only 10% of the Maldives is actually land. The remainder are lagoons and an ancient reef structure that encompasses many of the islands. The archipelago consists of two strings of atolls,

4 small islands formed upon a ridge rising from the ocean, encircling lagoons. It is the lowest country in the world at an average 1.5 m above sea levels. At low tide it is even possible to walk between some of the land masses. Emerging from the reef the islands are well protect from the wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans. This unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation perilous and even more allusive. The population and the level of development of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls. With around 200 inhabited islands, about 90 islands are developed as tourist resorts and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes. What's the Weather like? Synonymous with picture perfect sunny days, breezy nights and balmy mornings, the Maldives doesn t disappoint! It experiences remarkably consistent weather which makes packing considerably easier. The temperature fluctuates between 24 c and 33 c, and although humidity is relatively high, the constant cooling sea breeze makes the heat less oppressive. The Maldives has two distinct seasons, influenced by the south Asian landmass to the north. The dry season (northeast monsoon) is from January to March; and the wet season (southwest monsoon), from mid-may to November. The former is due to moisture-rich air from the Indian Ocean passing over South Asia. Bear in mind that the monsoon patterns do not always conform to those of South Asia. In recent years the Maldives has suffered from some unfortunate weather phenomenon. In 1998 el Niño caused increased sea temperatures, which led to the loss of photo symbiotic micro organisms. This is called coral bleaching where the once vibrant reef becomes damaged and unable to regenerate. Following this, the devastating 2004 tsunami as a result of an earth quake off the coast of Indonesia, left the islands infrastructure brutally damaged. Biodiversity The Maldives is a fragile system made up of over a thousand tiny islands and reefs. This unique archipelago is dependant on its natural environment not only for protection from the vast ocean surrounding it, but for its income too. A careful balance of income generating activates and conservation is vital to sustain this environment for the future. The Maldives is heavily reliant on its coral reef ecosystem. Islands embedded in the reef rely on the protection of the structure. The reefs provide a fertile habitat for countless species and vibrant corals to thrive. The inhabitants feed on the corals which stimulates re-growth. Locals rely on the fish attracted by the reef for their livelihood, to feed their families and most recently they depend on the beauty of its reefs and islands to sustain tourism. The sea life is abundant; home to over 1000 species of fish, 5 species of Sea turtles and nearly 200 coral species. Divers find they can observe anything from rare sponges to reef sharks. Endangered marine species including the whale shark, turtles, dolphins and corals are also actively protected by law.

5 Conservation projects like Hanifaru (a bay like lagoon in Baa atoll) is among the most recently protected marine areas. This area is home to manta rays who are attracted to feast on the masses of planktons brought into the lagoon by ocean currents. On land the diversity of wildlife and vegetation is relatively limited, with exception of the flying fox, a species of shrew and seasonal birds who fly in to the Indian Ocean islands. Domestic animals are more likely although dogs are banned! Good Books Dive the Maldives: Complete Guide to Diving and Snorkelling (Interlink Books) S. Harwood and R. Bryning. Feb 2009, ISBN / Maldives (Lonely Planet Country Guides) T. Mastershttp. 1 Oct 2009, ISBN / Photo Guide to Fishes of the Maldives (Atoll Editions) Rudie H. Kuiter. Aug 1998, ISBN / Maldives (Bradt Travel Guides) Royston Ellis. 2008, ISBN / CONTACT INFORMATION Call us on (UK) / (US) Mail us on info@frontier.ac.uk Check out our social media here: